Pseudo-Democritus

Pseudo-Democritus is the name used by scholars for the anonymous authors of a number of

falsely attributed to the pre-Socratic philosopher Democritus

Several of these writings, most notably the lost works On Sympathies and Antipathies and Artificial Substances (Greek: Cheirokmēta), were probably written by the

Bolos of Mendes (fl. 3rd or 2d century BC).^[1]

There are also a number of extant Greek

Greek alchemists

, who cited them frequently and even wrote a number of commentaries on them.

The alchemical works of pseudo-Democritus are also responsible for popularizing the aphorism attributed to the legendary Persian alchemist Ostanes, Nature delights in nature, nature conquers nature, nature masters nature, which went on to become an often repeated quote among later alchemists.

Four Books

The original alchemical works attributed to Democritus, known as the Four Books, are now lost.

precious stones, and the purple-dyeing of wool, all of which are subjects also covered in the Stockholm and Leyden papyri (3rd century AD). However, the preserved parts focus more strongly on the production of silver and gold, thus reflecting the main interests of later Greek alchemists.^[6]

The original works were probably four books on dyeing: one on how to give base metals a yellow tinge (i.e., to 'dye' them gold), one on how to give base metals a white tinge (i.e., to 'dye' them silver), one on 'dyeing' stones (i.e., to create precious stones), and one on dyeing fabrics purple (using cheaper substitutes for the costly Tyrian purple).^[7]

Historical significance

The Four Books are some of the most ancient works known in Western alchemy, and played a central role in its earliest development. They were frequently cited by alchemists such as

pseudo-Olympiodorus, Stephanus, Christianus, and 'the philosopher Anonymous'.^[8] Their authority among later Greek alchemists was such that the latter often presented their own theories and practices as an interpretation of the Four Books.^[9]

Some Greek alchemists also wrote commentaries on the Four Books. One such commentary, called Democritean Commentaries and written by the alchemist Petasius, is now lost. However, another commentary, called The Philosopher Synesius to Dioscorus: Notes on Democritus' Book, is still extant.[10]

Nature delights in nature

One aphorism that is often repeated throughout the Four Books, and often quoted by later writers, is as follows:^[11]

Greek: Hē physis tēi physei terpetai, kai hē physis tēn physin nikai, kai hē physis tēn physin kratei
Translation: Nature delights in nature, nature conquers nature, nature masters nature

Ascribed in the narrative of the Four Books to pseudo-Democritus' legendary Persian master

pseudo-Zoroaster and Ostanes, as well as to the works of Bolos of Mendes.^[13]

References

^ Martelli 2013, pp. 39–41. On the various proposals for the dating of Bolos of Mendes, see the references in Martelli 2013, p. 37.
^ As noted by Martelli 2013, p. 47, n. 270, this identification was first proposed by Wellmann 1928, p. 69, who was followed by such scholars as Holmyard 1957, pp. 25–26, Multhauf 1966, pp. 94–101, Lindsay 1970, pp. 90–130, and Irby-Massie & Keyser 2002, p. 235. It was criticized by Kroll 1934, p. 231, as well as by Fraser 1972, vol. I, 440ff., Hershbell 1987, pp. 8, 15, and Letrouit 1995, p. 17.
^ Martelli 2013, pp. 29–31.
^ Martelli 2013, pp. 1, 13–18.
^ Martelli 2013, pp. 1–2. Edition and translation in Martelli 2013, pp. 78–103, 104–115, and 116–121, respectively.
^ Martelli 2013, pp. 1–2.
^ Martelli 2013, p. 17; on dyeing purple cf. p. 11.
^ Martelli 2013, p. 1.
^ Martelli 2013, p. 48.
^ Martelli 2013, pp. 48–49. Edition and translation in Martelli 2013, pp. 122–149.
^ Martelli 2013, p. 11.
^ Martelli 2013, p. 11.
^ Martelli 2013, pp. 33–34. On Ostanes and the Persian elements in pseudo-Democritus, see further Martelli 2013, pp. 69–73.